KUKA at Hannover Messe 2018

Under the motto “iintelligence 4.0_beyond automation”, KUKA is showcasing the automation solutions of the future at Hannover Messe from 23 to 27 April 2018 – as well as presenting several world premieres.

Hannover Messe 2018 Video Playlist

Stay up to date about what's new at our KUKA booth with our video insights. You can jump between videos via the the playlist menu.

KUKA demonstrates the future of intelligent production

This year, with the slogan of “iintelligence 4.0_beyond automation”, KUKA is taking the next big step in intelligent production. The basis for this is KUKA’s automation expertise, which has expanded to embrace new technologies:

This year, we are taking the next big step with ‘iintelligence 4.0_beyond automation’. I look forward to welcoming you to our booth focusing on the topics of cobots, intelligent machines, logistics as well as cloud & connectivity.

Wilfried Eberhardt, Chief Marketing Officer, KUKA AG

Highlights at Hannover Messe: The Smart Factory

KUKA is celebrating an anniversary in 2018: 120 years since the company was founded. To mark this occasion, KUKA has prepared something very special. Trade fair visitors can have a customized KUKA souvenir made for them in our Smart Factory.

The Smart Factory thus depicts on a model scale what KUKA considers to be intelligent automation. User-friendly robot applications and cobots assist people with production while mobile robots supply the production robots with components. KUKA Connect software – which can access all production information at any time – integrates all the mechatronic components and digital platforms.

This year, the Smart Factory will again be at the heart of the KUKA booth.

The robot as an assistant in daily life

With the LBR iiwa, KUKA laid the foundation for human-robot collaboration (HRC) and is now building on this successful history. In the future, the robot will no longer simply provide assistance in industrial environments, but rather will develop into an everyday companion for humans. To achieve this, all interfaces must be simplified – whether for programming, operation or service. KUKA is presenting new solutions covering not only the area of cobots for industry but also non-industrial applications. Look forward to a world premiere!

KUKA has already been successful with cobots for industry and is now looking beyond industrial environments

Entering the intelligent warehouse using virtual reality

KUKA subsidiary Swisslog will be on site providing you with demonstrations on how the right software can enable intralogistics processes to optimize themselves.

Swisslog is also breaking ground in the areas of maintenance and servicing: using Augmented Reality, the service center will in the future be able to send visual instructions to the AR glasses of on-site technicians.

Looking ahead to the smart future: experience the advantages of Augmented Reality at the Swisslog booth

New product lines and services for IIoT

The I4_Suite product line from connyun, a start-up founded by KUKA, is being introduced at the neighboring booth. With the aid of the I4_Machine Optimizer and I4_Station Optimizer included in this suite, users can protect their production systems against failures and eliminate their workers’ need for stopgap solutions. The IoT company Device Insight, in which KUKA also holds a stake, is presenting possible applications of augmented reality for the first time, using smart glasses and tablets. The new service networks on-site technicians with specialists operating remotely and combines system data from the IoT platform with live recordings on site.

KUKA Innovation Award for young research teams

Ranging from a collaborative robot workbench with an augmented reality interface to an optimized robot controller using neural networks, exciting concepts for the KUKA Innovation Award 2018 were submitted by young scientists from around the world under the motto of “Real-World Interaction Challenge” addressing the topic of safe human-robot collaboration.

Five teams have made it to the finals. They are currently working on implementing their concepts using KUKA robots. An international jury of experts will selectthe winners of the scientific competition and award the 20,000 euro prize at the KUKA booth on 26 April 2018.

The young researchers who have reached the finals for the 2018 Innovation Award